Pirates miss huge chance to knock off Hokies

Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas fires a pass over the ECU defense in Saturday's game. The Pirates fell to the Hokies 15-10.

Associated Press

By Jordan Honeycutt, Sun Journal Staff

Published: Saturday, September 14, 2013 at 07:44 PM.

GREENVILLE – The East Carolina Pirates had a golden opportunity to upset Virginia Tech Saturday in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville.

ECU held the Hokies to 53 rushing yards and Virginia Tech kicker Cody Journell shanked three field goals and an extra point, but still fell 15-10.

Two glaring chinks in the Pirates’ armor Saturday were that they could not get off the field on third down and they couldn’t protect quarterback Shane Carden.

“It was unfortunate that we couldn’t take advantage of those opportunities but I credit our defense for helping create the opportunities,” ECU coach Ruffin McNeill said. “Our team has a lot of pride in this program. We expected to win this game today, but we’ll put it behind us after 24 hours and focus on the next game.”

Carden orchestrated a beautiful opening drive, capped by a 22-yard touchdown strike to Bryce Williams – it would be the only Pirate touchdown of the game.

Virginia Tech got constant pressure to Carden, forcing him to do something he rarely likes to – scramble out of the pocket.

Carden threw three interceptions in the game, after being pick-free in the Pirates’ first two contests of the season.

GREENVILLE – The East Carolina Pirates had a golden opportunity to upset Virginia Tech Saturday in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville.

ECU held the Hokies to 53 rushing yards and Virginia Tech kicker Cody Journell shanked three field goals and an extra point, but still fell 15-10.

Two glaring chinks in the Pirates’ armor Saturday were that they could not get off the field on third down and they couldn’t protect quarterback Shane Carden.

“It was unfortunate that we couldn’t take advantage of those opportunities but I credit our defense for helping create the opportunities,” ECU coach Ruffin McNeill said. “Our team has a lot of pride in this program. We expected to win this game today, but we’ll put it behind us after 24 hours and focus on the next game.”

Carden orchestrated a beautiful opening drive, capped by a 22-yard touchdown strike to Bryce Williams – it would be the only Pirate touchdown of the game.

Virginia Tech got constant pressure to Carden, forcing him to do something he rarely likes to – scramble out of the pocket.

Carden threw three interceptions in the game, after being pick-free in the Pirates’ first two contests of the season.

“I think it was a little bit of both – what we didn’t do and what Virginia Tech did do – obviously the turnovers, you can’t have that and that’s on me. I have to play better,” Carden said.

Linebackers Tariq Edwards and Jack Tyler along with defensive lineman J.R. Collins led a frequently blitzing attack that combined for seven sacks of Carden.

While ECU’s defense played its best game of the year, it couldn’t consistently force the Hokies off the field on third down.

Virginia Tech was 9-for-20 on third down conversions and owned the time of possession battle by roughly 14 minutes.

“It’s always tough not getting off the field on third down,” McNeill said. “We stress two things very hard on our team – getting off the field on third down and converting third downs.”

While ECU was shutting down the run with authority, Hokies’ senior quarterback Logan Thomas ate the Pirates up with slant and out routes to Demetri Knowles, Willie Byrn and Joshua Stanford.

“It was fun out there with my teammates and my guys boosted up my confidence,” Williams said. “We did a good job on the run, but third downs were all us with miscommunications on coverages and all. We’ll work on that and be ready for North Carolina in two weeks.”

The Pirates have next week off and travel to Chapel Hill to take on the Tar Heels in two weeks.